The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has announced the addition of five new gorilla families now available for tracking. This development offers travelers more opportunities to experience one of the world’s most awe-inspiring wildlife encounters and marks a significant achievement in gorilla conservation.
The introduction of these new families follows a rigorous four-year habituation process, expertly managed by UWA’s dedicated team. Their unwavering commitment to sustainable tourism and conservation has been instrumental in the success of this initiative. This milestone not only enhances Uganda’s wildlife offerings but also signifies progress in the conservation of mountain gorillas.
The five new gorilla families are located in various regions of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park:
Buhoma Area: Binyindo & Muyambi
Rushaga Area: Rwigi & Tindatine
Nkuringo Area: Posho
With these additions, UWA now has a total of 24 gorilla families available for tracking, amounting to 194 standard gorilla trekking permits.
Gorilla Habituation Permits
Gorilla habituation permits remain limited to four per day.
Gorilla habituation allows tourists to visit and observe wild mountain gorillas. All gorilla groups available for tracking have undergone the habituation process.
The UWA introduced the mountain gorilla habituation experience for tourists in 2016 as a pilot program. This experience offers tourists a more immersive encounter with the gorillas, providing a deeper understanding of their behavior by allowing more time with them than a standard gorilla trek.
There are four Gorilla Habituation Permits available each day. Tourists accompany rangers and researchers for up to four hours, observing and studying the gorillas in their natural habitat. The UWA rangers meticulously examine the gorillas’ nests and trails for signs that aid in understanding their behavior. The habituation process aims to keep the gorillas in sight as much as possible, making it a challenging adventure through the jungle as the gorillas search for food.
